Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 65l,88|. Pa'fented June 19, I900.

A. McKENZIE. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

. (Application filed Jan. 27, 1899.)

(No Model.)

m: nonms P Patented 'June l9, I900.

A. MGKENZIE.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Jan. 27, 1899.)

3 SheetsSh eet 2.

(No Model.)

- No. 65|,88|. Patented lune I9, I900.

A. MCKENZIE.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

ion filed Jan. 27, 1899.)

(Applicat 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 (No Model.)

- UNiTED STATES.

"P TENT OFFICE.

ANGUS MCKENZIE, OF JAMESTOVVN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE FENTON METALLIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,881, dated June 19, 1900.

Application filed January 27,1899. Serial No. 703,565. on model.)

To coZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANGUS MCKENZIE,a resident of Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Acetylene- Gas Generators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof. 7

My invention relates to acetylene-gas generators, its objects being to provide gas-generators in which easy and efficient means are provided for the filling of the carbid-holder, for cleansing any parts of the apparatus liable to clog with the deposit of lime, (or ash, as it is termed,) for maintaining proper seals for the gas which will compel i t to pass through the water, thereby aiding in washing or causing separation from the gas of any lime or ash held in suspension and preventing escape of gas when fillingthe carbid-holder, for main= t-aining a full supply of gas both in the generator and its accompanying holder, as well as to improve this class of apparatusin other ways hereinafter more fully set forth;

The apparatus comprises, generally stated, a tank having an inclined bottom deeper at one end than the other and a swinging gasholding bell or {.{GIIGIMJOPOhELlDbGI hinged at the shallow end of the tank and swinging down into the same, and a carbid-holdersupported on a pipe connected to a swivel-joint near the hinged end of the tank and extending forward, so as to carry the carbidholder in position to enter the tank at its deeper end, the acetylene gas generated from the calcium carbid in the carbid-holder passing through this pipe and entering within the holder through a pipe extending to a trap supported by a float upon the water within the tank and this gas-holder acting as it fills with gas to lift the carbid-holder out of the water, an accompanying or auxiliary gas-holder receiving the gas generated and carrying a lighter weight than the generator during part of its stroke and then lifting a further weight, so that the gas-holder when partly filled with gas be and a plan view of the gas-holder.

.through such faucet.

The details ofconstruction and the particular invention intended to be claimed will he hereinafter fully set forth. f To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention,l willjdescribe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical section of the generator and gas-holder in their lowest positions, showing also in dotted lines the carbid-holder raised out of the water and in position for filling and in other dotted lines the carbid-holder swung back in position for washing out the holder and pipes. Fig. 2 is a like view showing the gas-holder filled and the generator raised to its highest position, the weight and its guides on the gas-holder being shown at right angles to that in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is adetail of the carbid-holder. Fig. at shows two generators, one in plan and one in section, Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 through the pipe leading from the generator to the gas-holder. Fig.

'6 is a perspective View of the gas-holding bell and accompanying parts,and Fig. 7 is a detached perspective view of the carbid-holder and carbid-basket.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each View.

The generator-tank a is preferably built of wood, suitably lined, supported on legs or posts a. The sides I) and ends I) b are vertical, as shown, but the bottom is inclined, being composed of the abruptly-inclined bottom wall 0 and the gradually-inclined bottom wall 0', forming a tank deeper at one end than the other, the deepest point 0 of the tank providing a chamber for the gathering of the lime or ash from the calcium carbid and having an escape opening or faucet 0 which can be opened to withdraw the deposit of ash or lime, a large faucet having a free opening through which the ash may be raked, if necessary,being preferred, though it is usually found that all such deposit will flush out The inclines of the bottom walls 0 c depend upon the swing of the gas-holding hell (1, which is pivoted at d to the shallow end of the tank and corresponds substantially in shape to the tank itself, having the shallow depending end wall 01 at one end and the deep depending end wall 01 at the other, and the side walls d, formed on an incline, connecting the same. As shown in Fig. 4 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the end wall (1 extends for part of the Width of the tank close to the end wall c and then parallel withthe side walls (Z and thence'at right angles to the side walls, as at (1 leaving in this way a well 6 within the tank to receive the carbid-holder f. The weight of the gasholding bell d may be increased, if desired, by the addition of one or more weights (1 placed thereon. Th'e'maijn tank (I may be arranged to receive as many of thesegas-holding bellsor generator-chambers d as desired, a battery of two being shown in the drawings, though such battery may be increased according to the desired capacity of the generator.

The carbid-holder f communicates with and is rigidly connected to the elbow-pipe f, one arm'f of which extends down with the carbid-holder into the tank, while the other arm f extends parallel'with the top wall of thebell 11, toward the hinged end of said bell, and is connected by a swivel-joint f to the pipe g, which extends through the top wall of thebell d and thence connects by a swiveljoint 9 with the pipe g which leads to the trap or inverted washer-box g, which has connected to it the float h, by which it is held upon the top of the body of water within the tank a, with the mouths of the trap or washerbox dipping in the water. In this way the gas generated in the carbid-holder must pass upwardly through the elbow-pipe f and through the swivel-joint f pipe g, swivel-joint g and pipe g into the washer-box and pass un-v der the water before entering the generatorchamber, being thus washed or refined from any of the lime which might pass over with the'gas through the pipes and connections above described. The elbow-pipe f has the air-cock a at the bend or elbow of the pipe to admit air when the carbid-holder is withdrawn from the tank. As shown in dotted lines, the carbid-holder normally rests on the bracket d of the bell and is thus supported in its well 6, so that as the gas generated causes the rising of the bell d the carbidholder is lifted out of the bell and generation of gas discontinued, and when the bell 01 dedescends as the gas is consumed the carbidholder is lowered into the water and gas generation resumed.

e The carbid-holder f, as shown, is a cylindrical downwardly-flaring bell, and the carbid basket k fits within the same, being secured therein in any suitable way, the means shown being by the hooks on the base of the carbid-holder f, into which pins 7.", on the basket pass by the turning of the basket after it has entered into the carbid-holder. basket may be made of wire or sheet metal perforated to provide for the easy escape of thegas-fromthe'sam-e; It has extending across it 'SOIDBdISiJfiIl'CG above its open base 'thewire or like partition it on which the body I 'of carbidrests, as shown in Fig. 2, this par tition being made some distance above the base of the basket, so that the carbid will be lifted out of the water some time before the gas-holder reaches its highest position and before the base of the carbid holder or retort f passes out of the water. The basket 70 may, if desired, have secured to it the ash-pan Z to receive the lime or ash,whicl1 will pass through the grating 10 so that the greater part of the ash can be withdrawn with the basket instead of dropping into and clogging the tank a. Space, as at Z, is left between the top of the ash-pan and thebase of the basket through which the water can enter into the lower part of the basket and rise into contact with the calcium carbid contained therein. To prevent the bell d from rising out of the tank, so as to permit escape of gas, a chain m is connecled to the upper edge of the tank a and to the upper edge of the bell d, which limits the upward movement of the tank.

' Though the generators mayfor small plants be employed alone, depending onlyupon the space within the generator chamber or bell for storage of gas, it is preferred to employ the gas-holder and the gasometer n in connection with the generators, so that a full sup- 5 ply of gas will always be on hand. In such case the exit-pipe p from the gas-generators leads to the gasoineter, as shown, these exitpipes from the different generators in the battery extending from. points above the waterline in the tank a downwardly below the lowest position of the bell d, in line with the same, and the several exit-pipes from the several generators being connected to the horizontal pipe 1), which extends through the side of the tank. In order to receive any water or drippings which might pass over with the gas and to insure the openv passage in the pipe 19, I prefer to employ the drip-tank p at one end 'of the main tank a, into which the pipep' encating with the exit-pipe p communicating -te'rs, the exit-pipe from such tank communiwith the upper end of the drip-tank 19 and nary cylindrical form, having the tank at and gas-holder m and the gas-holder carries at the upper end the weights '1", resting within a seatforthe same. The weights 1' arearranged so as to give a less weight per square inch of surface to the gas-holder n of the gasometer than to the bell d of the generator,.so that the gasometer will be filled first; but to control the position of the gasometerand prevent its rising to too great height, while at'the same time providing surplus storage in the gasometer to prevent strain upon the whole apparatus in case of overgenerat-ion of gas, I provide the supplemental weight 0", which is suspended above the gas-holder n in such position that as the gas-holder rises it will come in contact with and lift this suppleinental weight, in which case it will carry a greater weight to the square inch than the generator-bell (i, so that the bell will be gradually filled and will lift the carbid-holder out of overgeneration of gas when the generator-- bell d cannot rise farther the gas will simply be stored by the raising of the gas-holder n lifting the supplemental weight 1", and storing this surplus gas, so that the necessity of having any escape or vent from the generator is overcome. The supplemental weight r may be suspended in any suitable way, the preferable and most efiicient way being illustrated, the tank 17/ carrying vertical guidebars 3, which extend above the tank and are connected to the cross-bar s, so forming a positive limit or stop to the upward move manner above described.

The exit-pipe p from the generator leads to the valve 19 which can be closed when desired to cut off supply of gas to the gasometer,

and from the same the pipe 1 leads into the base of the gasometer, communicating with the vertical pipe t,which rises up above the water-line therein, while fitting over the upper end of and supported by the vertical pipe t is the cap-trap a, which extends down below the water-level in the tank n, so compelling the gas passing into the gasometer to pass downwardly and through the water within that tank to further wash the same. The outlet-pipe 12 leads from above the waterlevel in the tank 12 out to the point of consumption.

When the generator is in operation, the generator-tank a and the gasometer-tank 'n having been filled with water, the usual operation is to raise the carbid-holder f, with its elbow-pipe f, so that the pipe f is in practically vertical position, when the basket'k can be inserted in the open lower end of the carbid-holder and turned, so that its pins k engage with the hooks It, so charging the carbid-holder. The usual custom is then to lower the carbid-holder and push it down into its well 6 of the tank, so forcing the carbidholder under the water in the tank. The water will then pass upwardly into the carbidholder and through the grating of the basket and will generate the gas from the calcium carbid in the usual way, the gas rising through the pipe f and the pipe f and then descending through the pipe g into the pipe 9 and into the trap g, which is held under the water by the float f, as above described, the gas being thus compelled to pass through the water before entering the bell d, and any lime which has been carried over in suspension by the gas through the pipes, as above described, being washed out and deposited in the tank, where it will collect in the lower or funnel end thereof, ready to be withdrawn through the faucet 0 As the generator-bell is more heavily weighted than the gas-holder of the gasometer u, the gas will then naturally pass through the exit-pipe 19 over to the gasometer, and as it rises through the pipe t thereof will pass into the cap-trap u and will be again forced thro uh g the water to further wash the same in case of the possibility of carrying ash over with the gas, though there is little liability of the same. As the gas is generated, the gas-holder gradually rises, and it continues to rise until it contacts with the supplemental weight 1", supported on the vertical bars 8, above described, when the gasholder n will be more heavily weighted than the bell d, in which case the bell d will commence to rise, and with it will lift the carbidholder f, and the entire body of carbidwill be lifted from the water before the bell d reaches its highest position, so that as the carbid continues to generate gas from any water adhering to the surface of the lumps or particles thereof the bell will normally provide space for the storage of the same. In case sufficient space for such storage is not found, however, when the bell reaches its highest position, limited by the chain m, the gas will pass over in the gasometer n and will overcome the weight r and lift the gas-holder n so as to store the surplus gas, such operation continuing, if necessary, until the gasometer strikes the cross-bar s, when no other movement can take place and the gas will simply be stored under further compression. As the gas is consumed the gas-holder 01 will descend until relieved of the supplemental weight r, after which it will naturally remain in normal position,holding the full body of gas, and to generate any gas needed to keep up the supply the hell (1 will descend, so as to dip the calcium carbid contained in the carbid-holder into the water, the bell d fluctuating in such way as to continue the generation of gas, and finally after all the acetylene gas has been obtained from the carbid in the holder the bell 01 will drop into its lowest position, as shown in Fig. 1, when the gas stored in the gas-holder 'n will maintain the supply until it is exhausted.

In order to recharge the generator, no attention need be paid to the gas-holderor other parts than the carbid-holder and its pipes. The operator simply opens the air-cock a so that as he raises the carbid-holder and its elbow-pipe the air can pass into the same, in which case as the pipe f is reduced to atmospheric pressure the pressure of the. gas within the bell d of the generator will force the water upwardly within the trap g and pipe 9 so forming a positive seal to prevent cet c.

it esLssi the escape of gas. The operator then turns the basket and withdraws it from the carbidhelder, cleans it from ash and recharges it, and reinserts it'within the carbid-holder, as above described, and forces it down into the well eof the tank and closes the cock f when the'genevator operates in the way above de-' scribed. In case it is found that the ash or lime is carried up with the gas in such way asto fill or clog the pipe connections from the gas-holder through to the trap g the opera= tor before refilling the carbid-holder swings it over into the second dotted position shown in Fig. 1, in which case the carbid-holder is raised,so that its open base extends upwardly, when he can pour water downwardly through the same and its connecting-pipes andthoroughly washthem out,- washing such ash into the tank, where it can descend into the base thereof and be withdrawn through the fan- In case it is desired to open any generator'that is, to withdraw the bell fromthe water seal in which it normally rests for re pair of that chamber or other reasons no gas can escape back from the gasometern through the connecting-pipes because of the cap-trap u, forming a water seal to the inlet-pipe t of the gasometer, the water rising within this trap and forming an efficient seal against the escape of gas.

The apparatus is simple in construction and operation, provides for the easy and rapid filling of the carbid-holder without disturbing the other parts, has practically no valves to get out of order, and provides for access to all of its parts without disturbing gas genera tion of other parts or necessitating the closing down of the plant.

While the generator and apparatus above described is primarily int-ended for use in generation of acetylene gas, it is of course to be understood that it can be employed in eon= nection with any suitable material in which gas is generated by a solid by contacting with a liquid, as may be found desirable.

What I claim as my invention,- and desire tending down below the water-level when in raised position, said bell being adapted to .swing down into the tank, substantially as set forth.-

2. The combination of a tank having an inclined bottom provided with an outlet-faucet at the bottom of the inclined portions and a gas-holding bell hingedat one end of the tank and adapted to swing down into the same,

substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a tank, a gas-holding bell adapted to pass into the same, and a carbid-holder adapted to pass into the tank and a pipe communicating with the'upper end of the holder and extendin'g'aboveand thence into the bell, and having a swivel joint above thebell to permit the raising of the carbid-holder independent of the bell, substantially as set forth.

t. The combination of atank, abell-holder adapted to enter the same, a. carbid holder adapted to pass into the tank, and an elbow pipe communicating with the upper end of the carbid=holder and extending to and coinmunicati'ng by a hinge or swivel joint with pipe connections entering the bell, substan tially as set forth.

' 5. The combination of 'a tank, a bell-holder adapted to pass into the'same, a carbid=holder having pipe connections leading from the upper end of the same above the bell and hav' ing a swivel connection with thepipe entering within the bell, and an air-cock in such pipe leading from the carbid holder, substantially as set forth. p

6. The combination of a tank, a gas=hold* ing bell adapted to enter the same, a carbidholder adapted to enter the tank and having pipe connections leading from'the upper end thereof above the bell and into the same, a pipe within the bell connected by a swiveljoint with such pipe, and a trap communicat ing therewith, substantially asset forth.

7. The combination of a tank, a gas holding bell adapted to enter the same, a carbidholder adapted to; enter the tank and having pipe connections leading from the iip'per end thereof above the bell and into the same, and a pipe within the bell connected bya swiveljoint with such pipes, a trap communicating therewith, and a float connected to the trap. '8. The combination of a tank, a gas-holding bell adapted to pass intothe tank and having pipe connections leading above the bell and thence into the same,- a carbid-holder adapted to enter the tank-and having an open lower end, a basket adapted to enter the lower end of the carbid-holder, the carbidhelder and basket being correspondingly cone-shaped,- substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a tank, a gas-holding bell adapted to enter the same, a'carbid holder adapted to enter the tank and having pipe connections leading from the upper end thereof above the bell and into the same, said carbid-holder having an open lower end, a basket adapted to enter the lower end and be secured to the carbid holder, and an ash pan or receiver connected to the basket, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with a tank having an inclined bottom, of a gas-holding bell hinged at one end of the tank and adapted to swing down into the same, a carbid-holder adapted to enter the tank and having pipe connec tions extending from its upper end above the bell and thence down into the same, and a water-trap within the bell having a pipe connected by a swivel joint with such pipe connections, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of atank, agas-hold- In testimony whereof I, the said ANGUS ing bell adapted to enter the same, an exit- MCKENZIE, have hereunto set my hand. pipe leading downwardly within the said bell and thence horizontally within the tank, a ANGUS MCKENZIE 5 drip-tank into which such exit-pipe enters Witnesses:

and an exit-pipe leading from the upper end I. R. RIDELL, of the drip-tank, substantially as set forth. A. F. WEBER. 

